Detention of oppositional "Kanal 13" Internet TV

On November 27, Aziz Orujov, the head of the oppositional "Kanal 13" Internet TV, was detained by the Sabail District Police Department of Baku as a suspect under Article 188.2 of the Criminal Code (violation of the right to ownership, use, or lease of land - carrying out arbitrary construction or installation works on a plot of land without a lease right). Before he was detained on November 27, the police searched the house and office of Aziz Orujov.

According to lawyer Bahruz Bayramov, Orujov did not accept the charge and said that the charge was aimed at restricting journalistic activity. "Aziz said that almost none of the houses in 'Area 20' have documents. There are thousands of undocumented homes out there. Should a criminal case be brought against all of them?" the lawyer mentioned.

The lawyer said that Orujov's house and office were searched by court order. "Sabail district Police Department officers conducted the search. Aziz Orujov bought a plot of land in the area called "20th Area" in Baku several years ago and allegedly built an illegal house there. The search was conducted on this basis. Orujov's car was also stopped, and his car was searched," he said.

On November 28, the Sabail District Court of Baku decided to sentence Aziz Orujov for three months as a preventive measure. By the Sabail District Police Department of Baku, Aziz Orujov was charged with Article 188.2 of the Criminal Code (Land ownership, use, and or violation of the right of lease - carrying out arbitrary construction or installation works on the plot of land without the right of lease). A criminal case has been opened.

Azerbaijan summons ambassadors of France, Germany, and the US over media allegations

On November 28, the chargé d'affaires of the United States of America and Germany, as well as the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of France, were separately summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and protested, the Press Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan reported.

"At the meetings, it was pointed out that 'Abzas Media' news portal carried out illegal financial transactions with the participation of organizations registered in these countries, as well as that the embassies of the countries in question were also involved in this activity, and a serious objection was expressed to this activity. It was noted that the International Development Agency of the USA, Freedom Now, New Democracy Fund, and other organizations illegally transferred financial resources to the territory of Azerbaijan in violation of the rules of granting grants and made illegal contributions to the activities of Abzas Media," the information said.

The ministry also said that the new media law, which came into force recently, does not allow the financing of local media entities by individuals or legal entities of foreign countries or by state institutions of foreign countries.